Mum in fear after council's blunder

Sep 28 2007 By Adam Smith, Birmingham Mail

A BATTERED wife was living in fear today after Birmingham City Council sent her new address to the violent husband she escaped from.

The woman, who the Mail is not naming to protect her, was horrified to discover a council benefit statement had been sent to the man who she claims hospitalised her on several occasions.

As well as fearing for her own safety, the 39-year-old mother is worried her husband will kidnap their five-year-old son and take him back to India.

She said: "This is my worst nightmare, I am worried my two children might have to move schools. I am a nervous wreck and every time I hear a noise at night I go to pieces.

"How could the council make this mistake?"

Birmingham City Council admitted the blunder and apologised to the woman. It is now investigating the possibility of an urgent move to alternative accommodation.

The woman says she suffered both mental and physical abuse at the hands of her husband and finally fled last October.

Since then she has lived in several women's refuges across the country including Nuneaton, Stoke-on-Trent and finally Erdington. In August, Birmingham City Council found her a house in Quinton.

"Everything was going so well, I had enrolled in college and my children seemed settled at last," she said.

But when she visited her Neighbourhood Office after her benefits had been stopped, staff showed her what had been sent to her husband's address.

She said: "The moment I realised they had given my address away I knew I would have to start all over again. I cannot live in fear every time the door goes."

A city council spokesman said: "We deeply regret any problems this has caused and we have apologised unreservedly.

"We are now working to assist her to resolve the situation, including investigating the possibility of an urgent move to alternative accommodation."